government publications

Government Publications

Parameters: Journal of the U.S. Army War College White House History: Journal of the White House Historical Association

Energy and Technology Review Arts Review

Forum: A Journal for the Teaching of English outside the United States Focal Points

Human Development News

Focal Points. 1975-. Bi-M. $8.50 U.S.; $10.65 foreign. U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Center for Health Promotion and Education, Division of Health Education. For sale by Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. ISSN 0278-1808. SUDOCS HE20.7212; Depository Item 504-A-1. OCLC 6392152.

Health Education Focal Points, despite sus- pensions and gaps in publication, has served as a newsletter about local, state, regional, and international programs and activities relating to health education for the past ten years. It began as a monthly in 1975, publication was suspended with the July/ August 1981 issue, and it resumed in July 1983. Now distributed by subscription, its editors intend to continue bimonthly publication at least through September 1986.

In addition to providing short articles and notes which often designate local contact people for a wide range of health education programs, the newsletter provides information on the current activities, concerns, and policies of its publisher, the Division of Health Education of the Centers for Disease Control.

Articles in the only issue published in 1984 were well written (by individual authors) and documented with footnotes and bibliographies. A column called "NHIC News" presents the names of contact people, addresses for publications and information sources on specific health information topics, and a toll-free telephone number for the National Health Infor- mation Clearinghouse.

If a dependable publication schedule can be established, Focal Points should continue to prove a

useful resource for professional health educators.

Andrea Singer

Human Development News. 1980-. Irreg. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Human Development Services, Office of Public Affairs, Rm 356-G, 200 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20201. Indexed: Ind. U.S. Gov. Per. ISSN 0742-6372. SUDOCS HE23.10: Deposi- tory Item 529-A-1. OCLC 6413498.

Human Development News (HDN) serves as an informal link among the agencies which guide the programs administered by the Office of Human De- velopment Services, the local agencies which facilitate these programs, and the people who benefit from them. Subtitled for the first two years "HDS: Work- ing with State and Local Agencies to Create Caring Communities," the newsletter focused during that period on social service activities designed to demon- strate how federally mandated programs were being realized. This remains the emphasis of the paper, although in the past two years it has undergone some changes in format and coverage.

In this periodical one finds a calendar of upcoming events and conferences, lists of publications on various topics, reviews of books and films, information on local social service organizations and their programs, brief summaries of state and federal legislation, and grant information. From time to time, resource directories are published as part of the newsletter, listing congressional committees, federal

SERIALS REVIEW SUMMER 1985 21

agencies, special interest groups, and other relevant organizations.

The newsletter's discussion of federal legislation is particularly helpful in interpreting the effects of new laws. For example, following passage of the Child Welfare Act of 1980, an article in HDN explained how the law would alter pre-existing statutes, and what these changes would mean to recipients of federal assistance. In another 1980 issue, an article in the "Native American News" section explored how programs designed to assist Native Americans would be affected by the creation of the new Department of Education, discussed structural and staff changes, and providing addresses for contacts within the department.

Beginning with the February/March 1982 issue, the format of HDN changed. The sections devoted to each of the four administrations which operate under the umbrella of the Office of Human Development Services were discontinued, and articles on the various programs scattered throughout the paper. The newsletter was trimmed from 20 to 12 pages, and the frequency of publication changed from monthly to eight times per year. The official publishing schedule is now six times a year.

Articles in recent issues are strikingly reflective of the Reagan Administration's encouragement of public/private partnerships in human services. There is less discussion of legislative activity and budget matters and more emphasis on what the private sector is doing to foster and promote social services. Human Development News is still a valuable publication for anyone interested in keeping abreast of what is being done for the poor and disadvantaged on local and regional levels, with and without government assistance.

Charity Davis

White House History: Journal of the White House Historical Association. 1983-. Irreg. White House Historical Association, 740 Jackson Place, N.W., Washington DC 20506. Ed.: William Seale. Indexed: Avery Ind. to Arch. Per., Supplement 1984-. LC 84-646056. ISSN 0748-8114. OCLC 10672536.

The White House Historical Association, chartered as a nonprofit organization on 3 November 1961, promotes public awareness of the executive mansion of the United States. Through the sale of its vast array of publications, income has been generated for the purchase of furnishings and artwork for the state rooms of the White House. With this introductory issue, White House History: Journal of the White House Historical Association commemorates the association's twentieth anniversary by "featuring articles on White House History, especially those relating to the building itself, and life as lived there through the years."

White House History, Volume One, Number One, contains a brief foreward by Melvin M. Payne, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the White House Historical Association, followed by five articles of 1,000 to 2,000 words. In a separate "Documents" section, the memoir of Paul Jennings, former slave of James Madison, has been reprinted in its entirety. This document, significant for Jennings's factual account of the burning of the White House by the British in 1814, and for its insight into the history of the black community of the District of Columbia in the early 18th century, is followed by well-documented commentary.

Although intended for scholarly study, White House History conveys its textual information in a clear style, only occasionally lacking bibliographic references. This straightforward writing approach makes the journal enjoyable reading material for the history enthusiast.

Contributors to White House History are history scholars and professionals in related fields. Brief career biographies, which list contributors' published works, appear at the end of the issue.

Physically, White House History is an attractive publication. This glossy, staple-bound 81/2" x 11" issue contains numerous black-and-white and color photographs from a variety of collections, outstand- ing in quality and composition, and augmented by appropriate, interesting captions. In the section "White House Album," history is recreated with many photographs from early White House years. Insufficient gutter margin and photographs that run from one page to the next make the journal unsuit- able for binding.

Subject access to articles appearing in White House History is limited to the edition of Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals cited above. Those libraries that have access to the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN) can search the Avery Index online.

Currently not a depository item, White House History is a must for inclusion in the Government Printing Office's (GPO) depository distribution program. The White House Historical Association, a non-governmental agency, maintains a special work- ing relationship with the federal government. Title 44, Section 1320A of the United States Code permits GPO to buy the association's publications for future sale and depository distribution, which makes White House History a prospective depository document. Other White House Historical Association publications such as The First Ladies, The Living White House, and The White House: an Historic Guide are available at many government documents depository libraries.

As of this printing, a second issue of White House History has not been released, but a regular publication schedule would be highly advantageous for libraries wishing to subscribe to this journal. Aca-

22 SERIALS REVIEW SUMMER 1985

demic libraries, public libraries, and special libraries with a strong e~phasis on art, architecture, or history will find White House History a valuable resource for their collections.

Beth Ann Kremer

Parameters: Journal of the U.S. Army War College. 1971-. Q. $9.50 U.S.; $11.90 foreign. U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA 17013. For sale by Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Ed.: Colonel William R. Calhoun, Jr. Indexed: ABC Pol. Sci.; Abstr. Mil. Bibl.; Air Un. Lib. Ind.; Curr. Mil. Lit.; Ind. U.S. Gov. Per.; PAIS. ISSN 0031-1723. SUDOCS D 101.72: Depository Item 325-K. OCLC 1039883.

Parameters began publication in 1971 with the purpose of providing "a forum for the expression of mature, professional thought on matters of broad military strategy, national defense policy, top military management, and other subjects o f . . . military interest." This ambitious editorial program reflected the goals of the U.S. Army War College, which was founded in 1903 by Secretary of War Elihu Root to provide ongoing military development for career Army officers.

Parameters accomplishes its editorial mission by publishing a selection of articles in each issue accompanied by a short letters section and a number of long, signed book reviews. The number of articles in each issue has increased from about six or seven in the early years to nine or ten at present. Articles average about eight to ten pages in length and are generally scholarly in character, usually with moder- ate footnoting. In the journal's early years most of the authors were Army officers and a few were academic and political professionals. However, in recent years the situation has been reversed, with the majority of the articles written by scholars from Universities or research institutes. In this sense Parameters has, over the years, become less an expression of Army thinking and more a scholarly journal in the academic mold.

From the beginning, Parameters has presented sound, objective discussion of military and political- strategic matters in both historical and contemporary contexts. Early issues considered such topics as the Army reforms of Henry L. Stimson, the managerial aspects of command, Soviet policy in the Middle East, the impact of social change on the Army, the Indian-Cavalry battles at Wounded Knee and the Little Big Horn, and the German view of tactical nuclear defense. Current issues continue a mix of tactical-strategic and political discussions with the notable addition of articles on the Vietnam War, which was seldom touched on in Parameters's early years. Recent articles have ranged from the military aspects of Grenada and Kampuchea to a striking

analysis (in the Spring 1984 issue) of the effects of Russia's Mongol military heritage on current Soviet tactical doctrine.

Parameters is well-edited and widely indexed, and therefore a good choice for libraries or individuals interested in any aspect of military scholarship.

Bernard A. Block

Forum; (English Teaching Forum); a Journal for the Teacher of English Outside the United States. 1963-. Q. $14. U.S.; $17.50 foreign. U.S. Information Agency, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20547. For sale by Superintendent of Docu- ments, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Ed.: Anne Covell Newton. Indexed: Ind. U.S. Govt. Per. ISSN 0425-2656. SUDOCS IA 1.17: Depository Item 672-F. OCLC 09974250.

The chief purpose of the U.S. Information Agency (USIA) is to strengthen foreign understanding of U.S. society, thereby increasing support for U.S. policies. The agency reports to the President and Secretary of State, and advises the National Security Council on world opinion as it might affect U.S. foreign pohcy. The USIA is responsible for a number of government information, education, and cultural programs, among them the well-known Fulbright scholarships and Voice of America as well as programs for instruction in English as a foreign language.

This pragmatic and interesting publication, first offered to depository libraries on survey 80-27, has been an important tool in carrying out the language teaching efforts of the USIA since 1963. USIA was merged with the International Communications Agency in 1978, then renamed USIA in 1982. These changes have not affected the publication, except that it collected additional SUDOCS, ISSN, OCLC, and card numbers. Determining its correct name, however, presents problems for serials catalogers. On every cover within the past five years, the words "English Teaching Forum: a J o u r n a l . . . " are printed in miniscule letters within the "O" of Forum." New Serials Titles 1950-1970 and Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory (1984) both list it as English Teaching Forum. In the 1984 Serials Supplement of the Monthly Catalog, "English Teaching Forum" appears only in the note area as "other title." Various OCLC records have the title as Forum.

Each attractive 50-page issue, printed on high- quality paper, contains several practical articles ranging in length from three to six pages, on such topics as effective methods of teaching English verb forms, jokes as a tool in teaching English as a second language, scientific and technical English, grammati- cal English relative pronouns, and the like. The authors teach English all over the world; in a recent issue, they wrote from Cairo, Dhahran, Singapore,


Guam, Thailand, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, China, India, Romania, and the U.S. The essays are clearly and carefully written and footnoted. The black-and- white and color illustrations are apt and often include delightful cartoons. Regular features are "Forum: News and Ideas"-short reports of less than two pages; a letters section; and "The Lighter Side," which features jokes and a puzzle. Occasionally, there are lists of books received, some of which include one- paragraph evaluative annotations. Three issues published since 1981 have included monaural audio disks; one recorded ten "shaggy dog" stories; another was entitled "Listen to Aesop." An index for the volume has appeared in its last issue or in the first issue of the succeeding volume. It would be difficult in the U.S. to get free sample copies, because such distribution is handled through U.S. embassies abroad, and the Washington editorial office does not deal with circulation or subscriptions. Microform back files from 1980 are available from the Micro- filming Corporation of America.

This small journal deserves a wide audience among teachers and students of language. In high schools, public libraries sponsoring language programs, and colleges and universities this publication should aid the teaching of languages and enhance the possi- bility of successful learning.

Laura H. McGuire

Energy and Technology Review. 1978-. $8.50 per issue paper; $4.50 microfiche. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, CA 94550. For sale by National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Spring- field, VA 22161. Scientific Ed.: Frank A. Morrison, Jr. Indexed: Atomindex; Ind. U.S. Gov. Per. (1984); Int. Aerosp. Abstr. (selectively); Sel. Water Res. Abstr. (selectively). SUDOCS E1.53: Depository Item 429-T-41. OCLC 4110972.

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy, was established in 1952 to conduct research on nuclear weapons and magnetic fusion energy. Since then, other major programs have been added, including laser fusion and laser isotope separation, biomedical and environ- mental sciences, and applied energy technology. The laboratory also carries out a variety of projects for other federal agencies, such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Office of Naval Research.

Energy and Technology Review is prepared by the LLNL Technical Information Department to report on unclassified work in all these areas. (A companion journal, the Research Monthly, covers weapons research and other classified programs.) Each staple-bound issue runs approximately 35 pages and most begin with "briefs" on new projects,

techniques, and equipment. These are followed by three or four full-length articles on topics such as "Earthquake-Hazard Analysis for Nuclear Power Plants," "Preparing for the Super Supercomputers," and "Toward a Science of Welding." The authors of these articles are not identified; instead, the name and telephone number of an LLNL staff member to contact for further information appears in a note at the beginning of each report. References and a list of key words used to describe each article appear at the end of the text.

A "Recent Titles" page lists articles published in the latest six issues. These are grouped under headings which vary slightly from month to month, but usually include ENERGY RESEARCH, FOSSIL ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION AND SOLAR, LABORATORY REVIEWS (e.g. "LLNL in the Developing Livermore Valley") and WORK FOR OTHERS (e.g. "The Strength of Ice," research done for the U.S. Geological Survey). Because Energy and Technology Review does not contain an index, "Recent Titles" serves as a quick subject guide to the contents of selected issues. Another page is devoted to abstracts of the reports in the issue, a feature introduced in 1984.

Aimed at the informed layperson, Energy and Technology Review is written in technical language, but is not replete with jargon. It is profusely illus- trated with photographs and clear, well-prepared figures and tables. The multi-colored illustrations found in the early issues have not appeared since the editors instituted "major reductions in the use of color in order to comply with efforts by the Department of Energy and the Office of Management and Budget to reduce government publication costs," in September 1983. Still, basic red, black, grey, blue, and brown highlights compliment the titles and figures.

Due to its minimal coverage by indexing services, unsigned articles, and writing style (which is similar to that of Scientific American), Energy and Technology Review is of limited use as a scientific journal. It best serves those individuals specifically interested in the research being conducted at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Paulette M. Bochnig

Arts Review. 1983-. Q. $10. U.S.; $12.50 foreign. National Endowment for the Arts, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Washington, DC 20506. For sale by Superintendent of Documents, United States Govern- ment Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Ed.: Dodie Kazanjian. LC 83-647160. ISSN 0741-4579. SUDOCS NF 2.13: Depository Item: 83 l-B-2. OCLC 10120344.

Arts Review, a quarterly publication of the National Endowment for the Arts, is a new periodical

24 SERIALS REVIEW SUMMER 1985

created to replace the Endowment's bimonthly, The Cultural Post. Designed to provide more information at less cost than its predecessor, Arts Review first appeared in the fall of 1983 with a new editor and a new format.

The purpose of the National Endowment for the Arts is to offer and encourage support for the fine arts in America, and to make art accessible to the public. Arts Review supports that purpose by inform- ing readers of the endowment's activities and goals, and by presenting information on art in its many forms.

Each issue contains approximately eight articles, the majority of which are interviews and reviews of endowment programs. In addition to the magazine's editorial staff, contributors include endowment program directors, newspaper columnists, and free lance writers. Artists interviewed include Celeste Holme, who describes her commitment to the arts and her goals as a member of the National Council on the Arts in volume 1, number 1 (Fall 1983), and Jacob Javits, who recounts his role in the establish- ment of the endowment in volume 2, number 1 (Winter 1985). The Winter 1985 issue also includes an interview with Robert Redford, in which Redford describes the Sundance Institute in Utah, which he founded in order to give independent filmmakers an opportunity to refine their skills.

Other articles appearing in Arts Review have covered such diverse topics as film preservation, boat- building apprenticeships, the role of the critic, and problems facing dance. Samples of grant-supported work are found in several issues in the form of poetry, graphics, and photographs. A recurring column, "Around the Endowment," furnishes news items pertaining to endowment activities. Each issue includes a list of grant deadlines. "Other Voices," a

column instituted with volume 1, number 3 (Fall 1983), presents an opportunity for contributors to offer humorous insights into matters relating to the arts. Noteworthy among these columns is Edwin Newman's discussion of "art" versus "arts" appearing in volume 1, number 4 (Summer 1984).

Arts Review is a worthy replacement for The Cultural Post. Its glossy 9 1/2" x 11 3/4" format compares favorably with the 8½" by 11" size of Cultural Post. The larger size is a more suitable medium for the graphics that are an essential part of the presentation of endowment-supported work. A typical issue of Arts Review is approximately 30 pages long, twice the length of The Cultural Post, which was essentially a newsletter, albeit an attractive, well-written one. While not skimping on the factual information of the kind found in The Cultural Post, Arts Review, with its lengthier articles and expansive layout, is a magazine rather than a newsletter. As such, it is more likely to appeal to the general reader. Since a major goal of the National Endowment for the Arts is to make art accessible to all people, this change in format is a significant step.

Arts Review is indispensable for arts adminis- trators and others needing to know about grant funding for the arts. Familiarity with the magazine should enable the reader to understand the objectives, methods, and philosophy of the endowment, and such understanding will prove invaluable in the grant development process. Arts Review will also appeal to readers who are not in a position to apply for grant funding but who are, nonetheless, concerned about government support for, and the state of, the fine arts generally in the United States. The magazine is recommended for academic and large public libraries.

Elizabeth Lang @
